Srinagar: Authorities on Thursday placed under house arrest top separatist leaders to prevent them from visiting Sopore town in north Kashmir where suspected militants have shot dead six persons in the last three weeks.
While hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani is under house arrest since last?week, curbs were put on movement of Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Mohammad Shraf Sehrai, Ayaz Akbar, Shabir Ahmad Shah and Nayeem Khan today, a police official said.
He said JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik was?arrested from Chadoora area of Budgam district last night and later shifted to Kothibagh police station here.
JKLF, Hurriyat factions led by Geelani and the Mirwaiz had?announced their plans to lead a joint delegation to Sopore to?express solidarity with the families of those killed by gunmen?since May 22 this year.
Separatist outfits condemned the house arrest of top? leadership but vowed to go ahead with the visit to Sopore? town.
"In spite of the curbs imposed on the movement of?the Mirwaiz by putting him house arrest, he along with other? Hurriyat leaders and activists would march towards Sopore on? Friday," a spokesman of the Moderate Hurriyat Conference said.
The Mirwaiz will also stage a peaceful demonstration along?with his supporters to protest the killings in Sopore, the?spokesman said.
